Staying Cool

Hi everyone.

I found cool spot.

Where ?

Bath Tub!

Ride, Ride, Ride

Yes, I actually got out to ride today. No, not going to the Wednesday night time trial but they have begun after some rain delays. The Hoyt Park trails are in good shape and obstacle free. I came across this obstacle but then realized it was no obstacle at all. Rode right through it. Then I crossed paths with this fallen tree.

And the tree lost. Just call me Heracles. Does that earn me a T-shirt?

Teavanna’s Samurai Chai tea seems to work to suppress the appetite, even over some time. Actually it suppresses more the cravings than the hunger. And if that is too much caffeine the White Ayurvedic Chai tea has far less caffeine. Both good for you and can be enjoyed cold. Even watered down in the water bottle it gives the water a crisp cutting edge that I can enjoy. More free advertising from the goodness of my heart. Yes, my weight is inching down. Not sure if it is the tea or my stomach shrinking as Misao pays more and more attention to portion sizes.

For the truly fit and powerful in the way of the bicycle you can ride six trails in one day this Saturday. I am not sure if you are required to ride each trail once a day for six days before that, if you get my reference. A mega event, Single Track or Bust, put on by those Northeasterners don’t you know. It is unclear to me how the event title conveys the scope and magnitude of the event but I don’t live in the woods.

Ike is looking for an agent. He thinks he’s going to be a movie star and is getting some promotional photos together. Obviously he is watching too much American Idol, but Misao wont let us watch anything else. I voted for Phillip Phillips. How could I not.

Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin

Today the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin had a grand opening but let me start with a project that shouldn’t be lost in the details. Dream Bikes is having a grand opening for a location in the inner city of Milwaukee. One of the contributors to the project is a man of Olympic fame (he trued the wheels for the Olympic cycling team) whose name to those discovering employment under his wise and capable hands is Jobs.

I took a short ride today to visit the Bicycle Federation’s new location just off the Hank Aaron State Trail. The development of the trail with its link to the south side via a bridge and an old tunnel under  the railroad tracks is a very good location for their new facility. The link that neighborhood now has to the stadium and easier access to the lakefront attractions by bicycle (or even walking in regards to the ball park) create a more attractive neighborhood and should be a draw for those bike enthusiasts who want commuting options, and those types are growing. But honestly, only a nutter is going to ride his bike to work everyday, or even most days out of the year in this climate. Yeah, I know it is bike to work week. Why don’t they hold it in January?

You can visit their new location and buy a T-shirt, jersey, socks or a trail pass, as well as regional bicycle maps.  The event had a good turn out, When I was taking the above photo some of the locals were griping on their porch about the rich people who can afford their fancy bikes with their special shoes and socks. Their website is a good source for finding events.

So I had a nice little ride today. Good after four very full days of work. The peach tree is loaded with peaches this year. The warmer weather will suppress the leaf curl. My brother sent me this photo of an elm tree I gave him some years ago. It just started growing in a pot I left outside. It seems to be doing well.

Beach Patrol

Or rather National Bike Patrol, they are having a medical training session this coming Saturday from 8:00 am. Very early for me as we work late into the night. Pretty sure I will be able to make it, though training oneself to handle any situation is something all real men should do. Like taking Hap-Ki-Do five nights a week during my four years in Korea. Every lesson started with fall drills. I have no problem falling properly when I crash as I practiced thousands of times over. It is sharp objects I have a problem with. Not sure if the National Bike Patrol patrols any beaches but I did get the beach bike repaired and put back together. Now a couple of large duel baskets on the back, some shiny fenders, a huge fancy headlight and a big honking horn and I be stylin. Never got a new used bike but someone in a forum recommended dream bikes.

Metro Mountain Bikers is now officially IMBA. Their social ride is tomorrow. Wont be making that either nor a event our Church is having in Chicago. I’m fairly certain I’ll be way too tired to then work all night and get to church early Sunday. The weekly time trials and odd Tuesday rides will start with the month of May. Lots of good events due to the efforts of Metro Mountain Bikers. You can earn T-shirts and stuff for volunteer hours. If only you could count the hours towards one’s cell phone bill they would be flush with volunteers.

Next week? There is a fitness festival in La Cross on Saturday and of course Iola, the opening of WORS is Sunday.  There is also a road bike race in Whitnall Park Saturday. Yes, the bike season is here, where no weekend passes without the burden of deciding which bike event one will attend this weekend (or not) as there are so many. I am not ready for WORS Iola and everything will be focused now and getting in proper shape for the Alterra Classic here in Milwaukee county. That Battle of CamRock sounds interesting though. Alterra may be my only race of the season if I cannot get under 250 lbs. At such a high weight one should worry about ones heart (not that worried) but the joints are also a concern (a bit worried). But it is my hope to be buff and under 250 after Alterra and to race most the second half of the season.

I need some new tires for the road bike and will get some more new tubes for the old mountain bike. The last two tubes I bought lose all their air overnight and I’m tired of having to pump up the front tire every time I want to ride. If they have faulty valves too I’m taking them all back. No more mister nice guy as my efforts over the next month and beyond will make crystal clear. I have no luck with tubes, but as long as no one calls me Bubba, Bubba wont be offended.

Not sure if we will get any peaches. The tree blossomed early and it reached near freezing, never frosting, down in our valley near the river several times over the past few weeks. The leaf curl is back just as bad though I treated last fall. Will have to get some higher grade stuff and treat with a handheld sprayer. You are supposed to use only one type of solution for any one sprayer. If that doesn’t work for next year we will have to call a professional.

It’s Electric!

No, not the song but the bike. The spring Bike Expo is over. What first caught our attention was the electric bike by the Swiss company Legacy E-Ride. Priced at $2,850 it has a rechargeable battery with a three year life span. Replacement batteries are $450. Not priced to compete with a used motorcycle or a scouter, but you get a new bike and you don’t have to worry about licensing beyond your basic bike license, it has plenty of range for commuting (20 miles at 20mph? without peddling) and it is far more versatile as to where it can travel; good clearance and it’s a bicycle. If you run out of juice, peddle it home. This is a real development for commuting by bike as you can avoid working up a sweat on the way to work. But the weather is still the big issue. The sales person said I could use their photos.

Then you have the electric bike trailer patent pending. Available for rent from the Rollout Trailers  out of Green Bay, Wisconsin. Get your money back by keeping a travel log. It is designed to accommodate any roof rack accessory.

Touring trails were well represented at the Expo. Bike the Blast claimed a 90% trail route from La Cross to Milwaukee. And the Ozaukee Interurban Trail also had a booth. A great enhancement of the trail is that it now extends four miles into Sheboygan County where you can catch much more bike friendly roadways than were available at the county line. Copper Harbor had a booth. The remote UP (Michigan Upper Peninsula for our foreign and California readers) haven is becoming a popular adventure destination for mountain bikers among others.

This fitness guru also had a prominent booth. But Metro Mountain Bikers was tucked away in the corner of Milwaukee County’s booth. We actually couldn’t find them but found out where they were at last nights meeting. Way to go Metro! The Metro social ride is April 28th.

Being right off the Hank Aaron Trail I will make it a project to ride all the recommended connections to the Ozaukee Interurban and perhaps find an acceptable more direct route through Milwaukee, going north rather than east to the lake first. When I went by bike to Sheboygan some years ago I planned a direct route through some rough neighborhoods. It wasn’t a problem as it was very early in the morning. I just got a new wheel for my mountain bike from Emery’s. Also had my beech bike wheels straightened. Time to get in some serious riding. Will see if I can get my mountain bike into prime shape on my own.

The mountain bikes did not seem to sell the best at the Bike Expo. My model of Trek is now very high end compared to what I bought ten years or so ago. Disk breaks are now standard for any off road bike. There were a few small items I thought of buying but we didn’t make a purchase. I was looking for some new models of Giro Helmets to try out but they were not available. We were on the way to the Expo when my wife bummed me out, reminding me we went to the Expo some years ago the day after Ship-po our dog died of poisoning. She started going off into the corner staring at us right before she became visibly ill.

Stocks appeared to be a sensitive issue and not just at the Expo. The shops claim they have tens of thousands available I get the definite feeling production is far below years past. The best sellers at the Expo looked to be the upright highbred bikes. Didn’t see a lot of baskets being sold though the stores have a selection of small baskets and racks. I believe people are still buying more for fitness concerns than as an alternative for daily tasking.

This weekend is the Earth Day River Cleanup. Never sure of my schedule or if I will volunteer. They say just go to any urban river and you’ll find an organized group you can work with to clean up your local rivers.

I will be getting my road and beech bikes cleaned and lubed and put together right in short order now.

NIKE Glasses

I mean , IKE glasses.





Design ( chewed ) by Ikey.





What about lens?

We don't need .

Dogs don't read .

Help Wanted ?

These days I learned shredding skills .

Would you like me working in your office ?

I will work for food .